farmers' institutes in the united states. 373 



the act directs that " he shall encourage the formation of agricultural 



societies throughout the State." The funds with which to carry on 



the work have hitherto been contributed by the State agricultural 



college. The legislature of 11)05 appropriated $8,000 for farmers' 



institute work to be expended during the years 1905 and lOOC. The 



new appropriation becomes available September 1, 1005. Twenty 



institutes were held, nuide up of 5'2 sessions, and the total attendance 



was 2,700. The lecture force was provided from the staffs of the 



agricultural college and experiment station. Twelve persons were 



sent out on this service, contributing in the aggregate fifty days of 



time. There has been no arrangement made for the publication of the 



proceedings. 



CONNECTICUT. 



Connecticut has no special law regulating the holding of farmers' 

 institutes. The State board of agriculture, the Connecticut Dairy- 

 men's Association, and the Pomological Society are each carrying on 

 institute work in the State. These different organizations receive 

 money from the State for the benefit of agriculture in general — the 

 Dairymen's Association for the dair}^ interests, the Pomological So- 

 ciety for the interests of fruit growing. The methods used by these 

 different organizations in carrying on their work and disseminating 

 information are entirely in their own discretion. Each has an insti- 

 tute committee appointed to have charge of the institute work. The 

 board of agriculture requires that localities applying for institutes 

 shall " furnish a suitable hall, provide local transportation for speak- 

 ers and visitors, music if desired, and entertain by collation or other- 

 wise, unless there are convenient hotel accommodations." The board 

 pays for printing, traveling expenses, and services of speakers. 



During the past year there has been cooperation between the three 

 societies, and the institutes were held in common, instead of sepa- 

 rately as heretofore. A general round-up or annual meeting of the 

 institute workers is held each year, lasting from two to three days. 



Fourteen institutes were held during the year, made up of 28 ses- 

 sions, and attended by about 1,200 persons. There are 30 lecturers 

 upon the institute force of the State. Six of these were furnished by 

 the State agricultural college. No reports of the proceedings of the 

 institutes are published. There are no specific local organizations for 

 conducting institutes, l)ut the superintendents depend upon the local 

 granges and farm clubs for cooperation. 



DELAWARE. 



The legislature of the State of Delaware in 1003 amended the law 

 respecting farmers' institutes, wliich formerly permitted a separate 

 institute director for each uf the three counties, by providing '' that 



